As days pass with no substantive negotiations and as the vitriol between the NHL and the players’ association continues to grow, the lockout is beginning to sound familiar to one eight seasons ago that canceled the entire season.

Yesterday, the NHL took a step in that direction, canceling the first two weeks of the regular season, Oct. 11-24. The cancellation includes five Blue Jackets games, including home games Oct. 19 (Vancouver) and Oct. 23 (Detroit).

“I really feel like hockey was on the verge of something big, the way it’s grown so much in the last few years,” Blue Jackets winger R.J. Umberger said. “But not after this. This is going to do damage to the game. The people, the fans, are angry.None of us players wanted to reach this point, but we kind of expected it with the last few weeks going by with no progress.”

This is the NHL’s fourth work stoppage overall and its third lockout in 18 seasons. All told, the lockouts have cost the league and players 1,780 games, including those canceled yesterday.

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman is expected to continue canceling games in two-week increments through at least November if a deal isn’t reached. The 2004-05 season was canceled on Feb. 16.

More than 100 players already have headed to Europe to play during the lockout, and many others are expected to join them now that regular-season games have been lost.

Blue Jackets winger Vinny Prospal and defenseman Fedor Tyutin are believed to be close to signing deals to play in the Czech Republic and Russia, respectively. Forward Brandon Dubinsky, Derek Dorsett and Jared Boll have expressed interest in playing in Europe.

“I think it was almost more shocking when they canceled the first batch of games during the lockout last time,” said Blue Jackets defenseman Adrian Aucoin, a member of the players’ negotiating committee. “This time, it really feels like we’re on Bettman time. Guys almost counted on it going down this way. It’s pretty pathetic.

“It’s (the owners) canceling games. It’s them locking us out. This is their strategy, and it has been from day one.”

Blue Jackets spokesman Todd Sharrock said season-ticket holders should contact their representative for refunds. Others with tickets to the canceled games can get a refund in person, by mail or through Ticketmaster.

NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said the league was “extremely disappointed” to make yesterday’s announcement.

“The game deserves better, the fans deserve better and the people who derive income from the connection to the NHL deserve better,” he said. “This is not about ‘winning’ or ‘losing’ a negotiation. This is about finding a solution that preserves the long-term health and stability of the league and the game. We are committed to getting this done.”

Union executive director Donald Fehr reiterated that the players were willing to play another season under terms of the old agreement while negotiations continued toward a new deal.

“A lockout should be the last resort in bargaining, not the strategy of first resort,” Fehr said.

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